Slapping the Inner Elbow Is NOT A Recommended Treatment during a Heart Attack!

It's well-known that cardiovascular diseases and, more specifically, heart attacks contribute to millions of deaths every year. Social media and mainstream media are filled with discussions on how to avoid heart attacks, treatment methods and how to help a person who suddenly gets a heart attack immediately. While some of such social media posts include accurate details, some social media posts include harmful misinformation about treatments and first aid.

Imagine that a small action like tapping the inner elbow can miraculously reduce the risk of a heart attack. Today, we investigate the famous video that makes the sensational claim that slapping the inner elbow can prevent a heart attack.

Social Media Posts

A video which shows a person sitting on a chair unconsciously, being elbow slapped by a group of people, was shared viral on Facebook.

The claim, along with the video, is below.

"A sudden heart attack in a theatre in Singapore. Doctors and assistants in Singapore slapped the patient's inner elbow, and he recovered after about 2 minutes. This video gives advice on emergency situations to pay attention to heart patients and how to deal with a heart attack that usually happens suddenly. Many become very helpless and die on the way to the hospital. Please remember: 1. By slapping the inner elbow of the left hand, as shown in the video, it stimulates the three acupressure points around the left side that are related to the heart and lungs. 2. Slapping accelerates blood circulation, which makes a person feel warm and stops sweating. You should know that a heart attack is due to a blockage of blood circulation. By tapping and slapping the inner elbow of the hand, you can increase body temperature, prevent its accumulation and facilitate blood circulation. Then take the person to the hospital immediately.

Facebook | Archived

These videos were viral among Facebook users.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Initially, we tried to find out the actual incident depicted in the video using the Invid-We Verify tool. We found that this was not an incident related to Singapore but an incident at a cinema in China a few years ago.

In 2017 a Chinese online news site reported the incident, and below is the English Translation.

"On the evening of August 7th, a heartwarming incident happened at China Film International Film City Nanning Qingxiu Hangyang City store—a young man watching a movie had epilepsy. The audience around came to give first aid immediately. With the help, the young man's life was saved."

The translated full version can be read here. Archived

And we found out that the photos of that cinema in Nanning City, China, matched the background of the viral video. Those photos can be reached here | Archived

So, now it's clear this video is not related to an incident in Singapore; let's explore whether the first-aid treatment methods mentioned in the viral posts make any sense.

Slapping the elbow method is NOT a suitable treatment method during a heart attack.

Medical experts not only reject the method of slapping the elbow as emergency medical assistance for heart attacks but warns against it, stating that this can even be harmful to the patient.

While speaking to the AFP, Dr Christiane Tiefenbacher, chief physician of the clinic for cardiology and vascular medicine at the Marien-Hospital Wesel in Germany, says that elbow clapping is not a proper first aid method or treatment for heart attacks. She also said that according to current scientific knowledge, there is no evidence that slapping the elbow would help to dilute a blood clot in heart vessels or increase blood supply to the heart.

Meanwhile, in an email, Hong Kong Brain Foundation told AFP that slapping the elbow is not a solution to the seizure or epilepsy too. Related AFP articles can be read here. Archived.

Moreover, Dr Lin Wei-Wan, a cardiologist from Taiwan Adventist Hospital, has also debunked this recurring claim. He stated, "I don't think there's any medical basis for it. When a heart attack occurs, it's an acute coronary syndrome, and in principle we don't recommend subjecting patients to any additional stimulation."

What are the Proper ways to treat a patient during a heart attack

If you think someone is having a heart attack, it is crucial to act quickly. Below are some first-aid steps you can take while waiting for emergency medical help:

1. Have the person sit down, rest, and keep calm. Loosen any tight clothing.

2. Call 911 immediately or ask someone else to do it if you can't.

3. If the person takes any chest pain medicine, such as nitroglycerin, for a known heart condition, help them take it.

4. Chew and swallow an aspirin while waiting for emergency help. Aspirin helps keep your blood from clotting. When taken during a heart attack, it could reduce heart damage.

5. Begin CPR if the person is unconscious. CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation helps keep the blood flow, increasing the chances of the patient's recovery. Here is a video with simply easy-to-follow guidelines on how to perform CPR.

(Source: Red Cross, Mayo Clinic)

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Conclusion

According to our investigation, we found out that the viral video is not depicting a heart attack incident in Singapore. It shows an epilepsy patient who became sick in a theatre in Nanning City, China, in 2017 and how first aid was administered to him. Furthermore, medical experts clarify that slapping the elbow is not a recommended treatment method/first aid for both heart attacks and epilepsy and can sometimes be harmful.